Sailors dominate Eagles in scrimmage

In Orange County football circles, Estancia High and Newport Harbor operate in different competitive worlds. But when the two schools met in a preseason scrimmage on Friday morning at Jim Scott Stadium, it was clear at least that much of the coaching staffs share the same scholastic heritage.

Like Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley’s staff, many of the Estancia coaches once wore the American flag on the blue helmets as Newport Harbor players.

Estancia head man Mike Bargas played at Newport Harbor and coached on Brinkley’s staff for many years, before assuming the Estancia helm nine seasons ago.

Eagles’ offensive line coach Lance Chavez also played and coached for Newport, as did Estancia defensive coordinator Chris Bargas.

So the handshakes and hugs between coaching staffs after the contest were as genuine as the competition on the field.

Newport Harbor, from the respected Sunset League and the CIF Southern Section West Valley Division, as well as former experience in the Pac-5 Division, dominated on the field in the controlled format that was structured to work repetitive down-and-distance situations.

Junior quarterback Michael Bonds threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jack Rapillo to culminate the Sailors’ first 10-play series and Bonds finished 10 for 14 with one interception (a carom off his receiver’s hands) for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Newport Harbor backup quarterback Dalton Rosene, a senior, completed two of three passes for two touchdowns of 30 and 10 yards. The 30-yard scoring toss was caught by senior Vinnie Bartolone, while the 10-yard scoring pass (from a first-and-goal designated spot) was to sophomore Jake Bashore.

Rapillo had three catches for 47 yards, while senior tight end Kobe Benter made four catches for 61 yards.

Junior tailback Cole Kinder carried six times for 21 yards and had two touchdown runs from three yards out in a goal-line series.

Senior Gage Roberson also had a three-yard scoring run and fielded a three-yard scoring pass from Bonds in the same goal-line sequence.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Benter also stood out at defensive end, forcing a fumble, batting down a pass and stuffing a running play for a two-yard loss as Estancia struggled offensively throughout.

The Eagles’ junior tailback Jordan Balcazar produced just one net yard on 11 rushing attempts, while senior veteran quarterback Connor Brown completed four of 12 passes for 36 yards.

Brown, who was sacked three times, threw a three-yard scoring pass from a goal-line set, caught by junior Tyler Ross, for the Eagles’ only touchdown.

Ross caught three passes for 27 yards.

Bargas also singled out the play of senior receiver, return man and cornerback Wilmer Sanchez.

Senior Luis Gonzalez made the interception for Estancia.

Newport Harbor senior defensive tackle Max Spruill had a seven-yard sack on the Tars’ first defensive snap, while junior cornerback Levi Hooper broke up a pass.

Sophomore middle linebacker Nick Fiola picked off a pass for the Sailors in the junior varsity portion of the scrimmage, during which junior tailback Roger Sanborn broke off a 60-yard touchdown run for the Tars.

Estancia senior Juan Lozada, a starter at offensive tackle and defensive end, left the scrimmage early and did not return with a contusion on his right knee. He is expected to be OK, Bargas said.

No other players were injured, to the relief of both coaches.

Brinkley was largely happy with his team’s performance, but did have an issue with run blocking.

“I think we need to be a little more physical up front,” Brinkley said. “We didn’t knock [defenders] off the ball the way I’d like.”

Brinkley said it was good to see his former players on the Estancia staff.

“Even our kids were saying, ‘Boy that [Estancia warmup routine] looks familiar,’” Brinkley said with a smile.

Bargas, who was pleased with the way his kids did not back down from the more heralded Sailors, also enjoyed reuniting with Brinkley and some additional former colleagues.

“I love Bill Brown [longtime Newport Harbor running backs coach],” Bargas, entering his ninth season at Estancia, said. “He is one of my best friends. Coach Brinkley is one of my mentors and I know a lot of the other [coaches] and I know their tendencies. But those [Sailors players] don’t know me from Adam. I tell people all the time that if I walked on the Newport Harbor campus now, they would call security on me.”

Estancia, which plays in the Orange Coast League and is ranked No. 9 in the CIF Southern Division preseason poll, opens its season Thursday against Loara at 7 p.m. at Western High.

Newport Harbor opens its season Thursday at home at 7 p.m. against Rialto Eisenhower.